Click Here for Winter 2022 Newsletter: Saratoga New Business Roundup, Cast Iron Tips, Showcase Recap, #MovingWithRoohan, New NYS Property Tax Break, Reduce Winter Waste & more!

BALLSTON — Construction is underway of an affordable and supporting housing development in the town of Ballston. The $21 million project at Dominic Hollow Apartments will create 60 homes, half of which will be reserved for adults in need of supportive services. 

“Saratoga County is one of the fastest-growing counties in New York, and the Dominic Hollow Apartments will help fulfill the rising need for affordable housing,” NY Gov. Kathy Hochul said, in a prepared statement released Nov. 30. “As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, my administration will continue to prioritize investments that allow New Yorkers to find safe, secure, and sustainable housing so they can live healthy and successful lives in the communities they love.”

Dominic Hollow Apartments will be affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income, or AMI. The town of Ballston is home to nearly residents – up from just under 10,000 a decade ago, according to recent census data. The median household income in 2019 dollars is $95,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Sixty percent or below of that annual household income is $57,000 and under.   

State financing for Dominic Hollow Apartments includes Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $11.5 million in equity and $4.6 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. OMH is providing debt service on Community Preservation Corporation’s bank loan of $3.9 million and a $106,500 Program Development Grant. NYSERDA will provide $56,000 in support. JP Morgan Chase provided $9.6 million in construction financing and the Richman Group is the tax credit syndicator. 

Thirty apartments will be reserved for adults who will receive on-site services provided by RISE Housing and Support Services. RISE is also the project’s developer with CSD Housing in a consulting role. 

Services and rental subsidies for 18 supportive units will be funded by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and 12 supportive units will be funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health. OMH is providing $416,000 annually in operating expenses for the 18 ESSHI units, as well as $477,000 annually for the 12 supportive units.

Dominic Hollow Apartments is part of the state’s unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan to make housing accessible and to combat homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 homes with supportive services. Since 2011, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested more than $490 million in the Capital Region, which has created or preserved over 5,500 affordable homes.   

BALLSTON SPA — The Village of Ballston Spa’s Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee will meet 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16 at the Saratoga County Office Building at 50 West High St. 

The committee will be exploring potential actions to address village infrastructure concerns that were discussed during the Dec. 2 meeting.  The meeting is open to the public, in-person attendance or via Zoom. Zoom link will be available prior to the meeting at villageofballstonspa.org/comprehensive-plan-steering-committee. 

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee has been formed to work in conjunction with a professional planning consultant to identify and study several topics over the course of the next year in order to create a final plan for approval by the Village board of trustees. 

All meetings are open to the public and Zoom accessible. For more information, contact steering committee chairperson Karen Martell  at karenmartell27@gmail.com or the Village Office at 518-885-5711, villageclerk@villageofballstonspa.org.

MALTA — A large-scale community COVID-19 testing site opened on Monday in Malta, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore Kusnierz announced at a morning press conference. 

“One of the things we committed to in January of this year is we would make Saratoga County’s response to COVID our number one priority. And this is an extension of that effort,” said Kusnierz. “The opening of this testing site is another example of how Saratoga County has made fighting the pandemic our number 1 priority.” 

The site, located off the Northway Exit 12 at 100 Saratoga Boulevard in Malta can accommodate up to 1,000 COVID-19 testing appointments per week. It is part of a public-private partnership with Syracuse-based Quadrant Biosciences.

Kusnierz said the reason behind the opening of testing site is “to take the load off our health care providers and urgent care providers” around the region. During the past week, from Nov. 28 – Dec. 4, there were nearly approximately 18,900 COVID tests performed across Saratoga County. Just over 1,350 people, resulting in a 7.2% positive average was returned over that 7-day period.   

Just over 72% of the Saratoga County population is fully vaccinated, according to the county health department. “As Dr. Kuhles (Commissioner of Saratoga County Public Health Services) has repeatedly said, vaccination is the best way to combat COVID,” Kusnierz said Monday. The county is hosting a handful of vaccination/booster clinics in the upcoming weeks. That information may be found at: www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid/covid-19-vaccines-and-boosters/. 

 The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors – the legislative and executive authority of County government – has not issued any mask-wearing or vaccine mandates, as some other communities in New York State have done. 

“This is another effort by Saratoga County to be proactive and to be ready for the holidays coming up – Christmas, New Year’s – we know that families will be getting together in close proximity and there is the anticipation that we will see a continued rise and one of the ways we can be proactive is to have this program up and ready before that time.” 

The site will not provide vaccinations and is to be used only by people who are having symptoms. 

Testing will be done using the Clarifi COVID-19 Saliva Test. Results will be available within 24-48 hours of testing. Those using the Malta testing site are required to create an account at app.clarifi-covid-19.com to access their results.  Appointments may be made 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 

For more information or to make an appointment, go online to quadrantbiosciences.com/covidtesting or www.saratogacountyny.gov/COVID. 

MOREAU — The Open Space Institute announced last week a land protection success that will, for the first time, provide a direct recreational and habitat connection between Saratoga County, Moreau Lake State Park and, ultimately, the Adirondack Park. The newly protected land completes OSI’s years-long goal of creating the corridor of protected land in one of the fastest-growing regions in the state.

OSI purchased the newly protected, 60-acre “Moreau Lake Connector” property from Margie French, who owned the land for more than 40 years before selling the parcel to OSI. The property is situated in Warren County between the southeastern boundary of the Adirondack Park and Moreau Lake State Park. It is adjacent to Ralph Road State Forest and more than 1,260 acres of OSI’s “West Mountain” acquisition to the north and Moreau Lake State Park, which OSI has more than doubled in size, to the south. 

The property is located at the north end of the southern Palmertown Range and is part of OSI’s ongoing work in the area to connect the southern Palmertown near Saratoga Springs to the Adirondack foothills. 

With several existing access roads running throughout the property, the forested land has the potential to expand visitor access and recreational use of Ralph Road State Forest and the northern side of Moreau Lake State Park. In the future, the property may be considered for additional trail creation and for the potential creation of a parking area and trailhead along Call Street. 

The acquisition furthers OSI’s goal of establishing trails between the Saratoga Spa State Park, Moreau Lake State Park, and the Adirondack Park Preserve to better welcome and disperse new and existing visitors to the area.

This property, and the properties it connects to, are home to a diversity of wildlife. The Moreau Lake Connector property is one of eight significant properties, including the Spier Falls addition which doubled the size of Moreau Lake State Park, Big Bend, Ellsworth and Kenison (together known as Greentree Lake), Hudson Pointe, Faith Bible Church, and West Mountain, together totaling more than 7,000 acres, that OSI has protected in the area in support of creating a connected, green corridor in the Palmertown Range. 

The property is anticipated to be added to Ralph Road State Forest, along with OSI’s 1,260-acre West Mountain property. Once the transfers are complete, OSI will have helped the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) more than triple the size of Ralph Road State Forest. 

The centerpiece of the Palmertown Strategy will be the development of a landscape scale, 50-mile-long multi-use trail system called the Sarah B. Foulke Friendship Trails System. A year-long master planning process for an inclusive trail network was completed this summer. 

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office’s Second Chance overdose program recently conducted its 500th post-overdose follow-up. The Sheriff’s Office became an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program certified by the New York State Department of Health in 2018.

Substance use disorder is a scientifically documented medical condition listed in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders. It is not limited to opioid use.

The program, which began in 2017, aims to ensure victims of overdoses and their families/significant others are aware of and able to use services that are available to them. Follow-up is attempted by the Sheriff’s Office with every victim as soon as possible after the event, in an effort to connect them with assistance.

Currently, there are members on every shift who carry extra naloxone (Narcan) kits to train and dispense to civilians on-the-spot. 

Since the inception of the program, the Sheriff’s Office has dispensed 1,032 naloxone kits to both civilians and law enforcement.

To date, the Sheriff’s Office has responded to 88 overdose calls, 12 of which were fatal. Naloxone was used in 58 of these events.

If you or someone you know suffers from substance use disorder, contact department partners at Healing Springs Recovery and Outreach Center in Saratoga Springs at 518-306-3048 for non-emergency assistance. The Sheriff’s Office communications division may be contacted to arrange for Narcan training at 518-885-6761.

It’s that time of year again when the focus shifts to the Code Blue Emergency Shelter for individuals experiencing street homelessness. Code Blue is a New York State mandate that says when the “Real Feel” temperature drops to 32 degrees, emergency, low barrier shelter for homeless individuals must be provided. In December of 2013, Nancy Pitts passed away in the freezing night which sparked a call to action to begin Code Blue operations in Saratoga Springs.

Frankly, the whole philosophy of Code Blue has often left me baffled. Why is it that we must hit a certain temperature before we take care of those who are most in need? Do we need the thermometer to tell us when we show compassion, kindness, and empathy? I have seen homeless individuals from ages 1 to well into their 80’s. I have seen veterans, persons with masters and Ph.D. degrees, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, and even grandparents.

Maybe if we understood our homeless a bit more, that philosophy might change. Homelessness is not just a Saratoga problem; it has been an issue in our country and across the world for decades. There are many reasons why homelessness is such an issue. The contributing factors around homelessness are poverty, lack of affordable housing, addiction/substance use, and mental health challenges. In today’s society, we look at those who are suffering and instinctively assume that homelessness is of their own creation. Many people have been let down by our societal systems, and overcoming homelessness requires a support system many do not have. I can assure you that no person aspires to be homeless or at a Code Blue shelter.

Please, don’t get me wrong. I’ve been working at Shelters of Saratoga and in this wonderful community for 15 months. What I’ve seen since my arrival would make anyone proud. I’ve seen our businesses, city and county government officials want to be part of a solution. I’ve witnessed how much our community truly cares about some of today’s most controversial issues. Most notably are the dedicated staff and volunteers that give up their evenings and early mornings so that they can provide a hot meal, a warm cot, and more importantly, dignity and hope to our neighbors that have lost so much.

Last year we sheltered an average of 33 people a night at Code Blue, serving a total of 215 people for the season. Our volunteers served over 5,000 meals that were generously donated by local restaurants and community organizations. Code Blue is currently in full swing at our temporary Adelphi Street location and we are already on par to eclipse last year’s numbers.

There are multiple agencies working diligently to solve homelessness. Code Blue is a life-saving strategy, but not the answer to homelessness. We must work together on proven solutions to bring this human issue into the forefront of our minds and hearts. It’s time we discard the “thermometer philosophy” and take the next steps to expand  year-round services at the navigation center and designate a permanent location for Code Blue. With these resources we can forge better pathways out of the despair of homelessness. 

To learn more about Shelters of Saratoga’s work to end homelessness, please visit: sheltersofsaratoga.org 

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors will hold their monthly meeting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15. It is the last regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting of the calendar year and will take place at 40 McMaster St., Ballston Spa. 

The meeting will be preceded by a Public Hearing at 3 p.m. regarding the proposed development of a new aircraft hangar at Saratoga County Airport. 

North American Flight Services (NASF), which has been the Fixed Base Operator at the county airport for 22 years, proposed that it would privately fund the design and construction of the 22,500 square foot hangar – estimated at $6 million to $7 million – and would pay taxes and retain ownership of it following its construction. 

NASF currently holds two leases at the airport with a term through April 2028 on which it currently pays approximately $7,000 per month. With the potential addition of a new hangar, the company is requesting the term of the lease be modified to extend to 2061, with a sliding incremental increase in monthly payments that would conclude at just over $9,600 per month in the final five years of the proposed lease extension, from 2056-2061. 

{loadmoduleid 268}   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A variety of development projects are under consideration this month by the city’s three Land Use Boards.

Meetings of the three Land Use Boards – Planning Board, Design Review Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals are held at Saratoga Springs City Hall. Note that submitted plans and meeting agendas are subject to change. For the most current information, visit the city website at: saratoga-springs.org.    

• Demolition. Property Address: 120 South Broadway. Proposal: demolish and remove a 9,000 square foot building in its entirety along the southern border and approximately 2,100 square foot portion of the building along the eastern border. Applicant: Stephen Ether. Owners: Strategies LLC.  Current application consideration at Design Review Commission.

Demolition proposal at 120 South Broadway. Photo provided.

• New Broadway mixed-use. Property Address: 269 Broadway. Located just north of St. Peter’s Academy, and directly across the street of Park Place Condominiums. Currently a vacant lot. Seeking: Historic Review of a new 6-story commercial/retail building with on-site, underground parking. Current application consideration at Design Review Commission.

• Saratoga Hospital Medical Office Campus. Project location: Corner of Myrtle Street and Morgan St, 1 Morgan St. and 55 Myrtle St. Seeking: coordinated SEQRA review for a phased project totaling 105,000 square foot medical office use and associated site work in the Office Medical Business and Urban Residential districts.

• Stewart’s Shops Corp. Property Address: 34 Marion Ave. Stewart’s Marion Avenue/ Route 9 and Maple Dell.  Seeking: consideration of deferral of lead agency status for coordinated SEQRA review for establishment of a PUD (Planned Unit Development).  Proposal: seeking to establish a PUD that will facilitate the construction of a new store with gas pumps, car wash, four residential units and professional office space, among other things.  Applicant owns several parcels (6.14 acres) along Maple Avenue and Maple Dell which contain a multitude of existing uses and vacant land. Current consideration at Planning Board. 

• Caroline Street. Property Address: 172 Caroline St. Applicant/ Purchaser under contract: James Stockwell. Owner: Estate of Jack Paston. Proposal: 0.36 acres subdivided into two lots. Sketch plan review of a proposed two-lot subdivision. Current consideration at Planning Board.

{loadmoduleid 268}

Click Here for Homes Wanted: Is Yours A Match?